Who Regulates the Safety of Cosmetics?

The US government does not mandate safety studies of cosmetics.From the FDA website: "The regulatory requirements governing the sale of cosmetics are different from those that apply to most other FDA-regulated products. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetics and their ingredients, with the exception of color additives that are not coal-tar hair dyes, are not required to undergo approval by the FDA before they are marketed in products sold to the public. The FDA generally regulates these products after they have been released in the marketplace."

FDA has documented 10,500 ingredients in cosmetic products.Only 11 percent of these ingredients have been assessed for safety by the cosmetic industry's review panel

Effective September 2004, the EU banned the use of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. Cosmetics Directive (76/768/EEC)

US cosmetics manufacturers are not required to fully list product ingredients.

In Europe, full ingredient listings are required by law - the INCI standard.

All Lavera, Benecos, and True Natural products come with a full INCI ingredient listing as required by European law. Please note that INCI listings show the full "scientific" name of a product and may be a little more difficult to comprehend. For instance: Aloe Barbadensis Extract is Aloe Vera Extract. Also, the word FRAGRANCE is used to describe Essential Oils. Do not misinterpret this to mean that these brands use anything other than the finest, natural ingredients!